By Udeme Clement
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun State Command, has raked in over N2.3billion revenue in its operations last year as against N2.1billion realised in 2009.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Alade Saliu, made this disclosure while briefing newsmen at Idiriko, stressing that over 70 per cent of the monthly revenue came from excise duty paid by the excise traders and the discovery of more excisable factories operating within the zone.

His words: “In 2010, we recorded 303 seizures valued at N227.6million as against 122 seizures recorded at the same period in 2009. In January 2011, we made an impressive revenue collection of N255.6 million compared to N185.5 million collected in the same period in the preceding year. Anti-smuggling campaign for the month of January 2011 yielded good result of 55 seizures with the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N20.1million compared to 12 seizures with DPV of N4.9 million made the same period in 2010.”

Saliu who conducted journalists round seizures of perishable items, vehicles and general goods, added that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) inspection bay at the border, which has over the years constituted serious hindrance to free flow of traffic was finally pulled down to ensure free passage of trucks within the border area.